August 28, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/h0PkIz
Thirty-two thousand tonnes of sugar has already left Fiji shores for overseas markets, says Labasa Fiji Sugar Corporation mill manager Christopher Karia, according to the Fiji Times newspaper.
While answering queries from king and queen contestants who toured the mill Wednesday, Karia said three ships had left our shores with sugar and molasses.
Karia said two of the ships contained sugar while one carried molasses.
"This crushing season is expected to end by mid-October due to the short supply of cane," he said.
"An issue the mill has been focusing and strengthening its stand on is the issue of OHS and in my 30 years of leadership as manager at the mill I have only come across two deaths at the mill.
"Accidents can be attributed to a lot of factors and one of them is the mill system which is very old and the attitude of workers. We are clamping down on safety issues to ensure that there are no major accidents and no lives lost."
Karia told contestants the safety of workers also depended on how they strictly followed the operational guidelines at the mill.
"Another issue we have had to address is the conservation of the environment which is an issue that Labasa FSC is now fully aware of," he said.
"It is good news that we have over the years managed to totally control and avoid the spillage of chemicals in the Labasa River. This is evident in the change from the stench levels that used to be a major problem with communities and schools located near the mill in the past which has now completely changed."